A BRADFORD Reform candidate appears to have deleted two of his social media accounts after screenshots emerged online.
Steve Hammond, from Bradford, is standing for election as a district councillor in the Holme Wood and Bierley ward in May’s local elections.
However, the Reform UK candidate has faced questions after screenshots, said to show posts from his Threads and Facebook accounts, circulated online.
A series of screenshots were posted on X by a campaign group called Reform Party UK Exposed GB.
They were also shared on Facebook by a group calling itself the Exposing Racism Group on Saturday, April 11, and purport to show posts made and shared by the candidate.
This screenshot appears to show him announcing his candidacy (Image: on X)
Reform Party UK Exposed GB said the screenshots were taken from Threads and Facebook accounts – which they have noted are unavailable. The T&A has seen the screenshots but has been unable to verify the accounts as belonging to Mr Hammond as they appear to have been deleted.
A post was shared in a public Facebook group on Saturday, April 11 by poster Shankar Prasad.
As well as declaring his candidacy online, the screenshots appear to show Mr Hammond sharing his thoughts on a range of issues – from female football commentators to matters of global politics.
A screenshot appearing to show a status made by Mr Hammond (Image: on X)
One appears to show a Facebook status made by an account on February 8 which reads: “Why do we have to have female commentators on men’s football that woman on arsenal game [is] crap.”
One screenshot is a retweet of a post which refers to the debunked far right ‘replacement’ conspiracy theory.
The widely discredited demographic theory claims that white European populations are being deliberately replaced by non-white immigrants, particularly from Muslim-majority countries, through mass migration and lower birth rate.
The original post, which appears to have been retweeted, says: ‘What is being done to us and our country is tantamount to genocide. The destruction of our culture! The rape of our children! The importation of foreign hordes!’
A screenshot referencing the ‘replacement’ theory (Image: on X)
Another screenshot refers to Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin and says “the boss of the free world has decided to be a dictator join with his buddy Putin and rule the world the 2 people need to be shot.”
Another post shows a retweet from an account called English & Proud showing a map of England overlaid with the flag of St George with the words: “This is England. We eat pork, drink beer and speak English.”
A screenshot referencing Trump and Putin (Image: on X)
Another screenshot appears to show a post shared on Mr Hammond’s Facebook (Image: on X)
After viewing the posts, Georgie Laming, Director of Campaigns at HOPE not Hate, said Reform needed to tighten up its vetting procedures and questioned whether Mr Hammond was an appropriate person to stand for election.
He added: “Reform has multiple times boasted that they have “the best vetting in the country” – so is the issue Reform’s vetting, or do they think these kinds of candidates are appropriate to stand?”
The T&A visited Mr Hammond’s address. We knocked on the door, but no one answered.
Our reporter posted a letter though his letter box providing Mr Hammond with the opportunity to respond. He has not replied.
The Reform Party UK has also been contacted on multiple occasions to comment.
It has so far declined to respond.
The response from Nigel Farage
The Leader of the Reform Party UK Nigel Farage was today (April 22) in the Bradford district.
When asked about candidates’ social media use by the T&A in a video interview, with reference to some of the posts made by Mr Hammond, Mr Farage said: “People on social media say silly things, for goodness sake.”
“Most of our candidates have never been in politics before in their lives. One or two might be a bit rough around the edges when it comes to, you know, the standards you might expect of parliamentary candidates.
“These are council elections, you know what, across the country, the Tories have suspended far more candidates than we have.
“Plaid have had terrible problems, Labour have had problems. The Greens have had nightmares.
“You know when you’re fielding 5000 candidates, one or two will say things that I might not necessarily directly approve of.
“I say to people, look, there is a big difference when you’re venting your spleen on social media and now being a candidate.
“You’re now standing for public office, now’s the time to show some real responsibility, and if they do, they’ve learned their lesson, that’s good and if they don’t, then we will part company.